Compare towns
Stratham vs Auburn vs Mont Vernon vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Stratham | Auburn | Mont Vernon | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
6,119 |
2,636Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Auburn School District | Mont Vernon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.